Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1336 A.D.) Widow

  

 
SAINT ELIZABETH 

Queen of Portugal, Widow
 

SIMPLE / WHITE

Daughter of King Peter III of Aragon, Elizabeth (1271-1336) was married at twelve years of age to King Denis of Portugal. She made peace between the rulers of Portugal, Castile, and Aragon, and repeatedly reconciled quarreling members of her own royal family. Becoming a widow, she entered the Order of the Poor Clares. As she was dying, she said: "Draw up a chair for the radiant lady in white who is coming." Then she murmured to the Blessed Virgin, who came to her, "Mary, Mother of grace."

Mass of a Holy Woman, except

COLLECT
O most merciful God, who amongst other excellent gifts didst endow the blessed queen Elizabeth with singular power to calm war-threatening rage, grant through her intercession, that after that peace in this mortal life, for which we humbly pray, we may attain eternal joys. Through our Lord . . .

Lesson
Lesson from the book of Proverbs
Prov 31:10-31
When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands. Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar. She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household. She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms. She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle. She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed. She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing. Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land. She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel. She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness. Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her: Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.
R. Thanks be to God.

Gradual
Ps 44:3, 5.
Grace is poured out upon your lips; thus God has blessed you forever.
V. In the cause of truth and mercy and for the sake of justice: may your right hand show you wondrous deeds. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 44.5
V. In your splendor and your beauty ride on triumphant, and reign. Alleluia.

Gospel
Matt 13:44-52
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; he who finds it hides it, and in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that gathered in fish of every kind. When it was filled, they hauled it out, and sitting down on the beach, they gathered the good fish into vessels, but threw away the bad. So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the just, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to Him, Yes. And He said to them, So then, every Scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings forth from his storeroom things new and old.


Offertory
Ps 44:3
Grace is poured out upon your lips; thus God has blessed you forever, and for ages of ages.

SECRET
May this sacrifice of Thy dedicated people be accepted by Thee, O Lord, in honor of Thy Saints, to whose merits we attribute the help afforded us in tribulation. Through our Lord . . .

 Communion
Ps 44:8
You love justice and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

POSTCOMMUNION
Thou hast filled Thy household, O Lord, with holy gifts; do Thou cherish us always, through the intercession of her whose festival we are keeping. Through our Lord . . .